[fic] Pumping Iron
This is a Germany/America fic written for himitsu_santa and it's actually not smut, I know, shocking coming from me. Enjoy!
“Man, it’s kinda funny, isn’t it?”
Germany, who was running on a treadmill at the moment, looked over to where America was seated on a bench doing bicep curls and shooting the other nation a wry smile. Germany raised an eyebrow.
“What do you mean by that?”
America laughed cheerfully at Germany’s confusion.
“Well. When most people think of a gay couple, they think of them doing stuff like. Going out on mushy dates and watching chick flicks and giving each other fashion tips and shit like that. But here we are at a gym.”
Germany was so caught off guard by that remark that he nearly fell off the treadmill. Jumping off at the last second before a catastrophic accident could happen, he stood in front of the other nation-his boyfriend-and blushed, remaining silent for a while, thanking the Lord that they were there so early that the gym was deserted. The only other person besides them that was there was a young woman on an elliptical across the room from them, and she had headphones in. Thank God. America just grinned and continued doing his bicep curls.
“And what is the point of this observation?”
“Oh, nothin’. Just thought it was kinda funny. And I was curious to see if it’d make you blush like that. Guess I was right!”
Germany rolled his eyes. Sometimes he wondered why he was so drawn to the other blond, enough to put up with that sort of crap out of him. But then he remembered while watching the other man continue his exercises as if nothing had happened. Though he goofed around a lot, America was serious about a lot of things, including his body’s fitness. Even if he did eat so many hamburgers it was obscene. Though Germany had to admit, at least to himself, it was kind of cute that America actually remembered that his favorite food got its name from one of his boyfriend’s cities.
He was also very handsome. And thoughtful when it really counted. And generous. He really was a hero sometimes. Even if he could also be a clown and embarrassing in public. All in all, Germany was very happy with his relationship with the loud and excitable young nation.
America finished his last set and put his dumbbells back away where they went, then decided it was time to be embarrassing again. Glancing over to make sure the woman on the elliptical wasn’t looking their way first, he slid an arm over Germany’s shoulder and pulled him into a quick, soft kiss. Startled and flustered, it took Germany all of his willpower to not yell and cause a total ruckus.
“America! What have I told you about PDA?!”
He hissed once America pulled away. America just shrugged, grinning.
“Sometimes I can’t help myself. You look good enough to eat sometimes~”
“…Was that supposed to be a compliment?”
America just laughed in reply to Germany’s remark. Germany rolled his eyes.
“C’mon, let’s finish our routine. You haven’t even started your weights yet.”
He clapped a hand over Germany’s impressive triceps, giving his arm a light squeeze that was both encouraging and affectionate. Germany couldn’t help but smile.
“You’re right. And you still need to do your ab workout, don’t you?”
America blushed. Though it was said as seriously as ever, America knew that Germany was teasing him a little. He had abs of steel, but in the back of his mind he was always slightly nervous that his figure would start to slip if he let up on the workouts at all. He did eat a lot of hamburgers.
“…Right. What’s your regimen today, anyway?”
A smooth change of subject indeed. Germany always liked talking about that sort of thing, routines and schedules and exercises. Still smiling, he replied,
“Start with the machines for working the quadriceps, followed by hamstrings, then calves. Then move to shoulder press, followed by pushdown. Move to 50 pound free weights next. Bicep curls, lateral raise, and deadlift. Finally, move to bench press with seventy-five pound weights. One hundred reps for everything.”
America gaped for a moment. It always amazed him how much Germany did in the weight room. If it was anyone else he’d probably think they were crazy. One hundred reps for everything? And he was doing quite a bit; he’d already done everything on the floor mat, also one hundred reps there, and he’d been running on that treadmill for a half an hour at least. Germany was the only person he knew that could handle that level of exercise aside from himself, and even he seldom worked himself quite that hard.
“Ah, tomorrow is less strenuous. Just cardio and swimming.”
He supplied, as if reading America’s mind. America grinned, looking forward to seeing Germany in a speedo. Swimming days were the best days, oh yes.
“Better get cracking, then! Want me to spot you on the bench press like usual?”
“Of course.”
Even America, king of inability to read the atmosphere, could catch the affection in Germany’s voice.
“Kay, come get me when you need me. I’ll be workin’ with the medicine ball!”
Germany nodded before heading over to the weights area to begin.
When the time came to go get America, Germany was definitely sweating. First he took a long drink from the water fountain, then took the towel that was around his neck to wipe the sweat off his face. He found America just finishing up the last bit of his ab workout.
“Ah, ready?”
America grinned, sitting up.
“Ja.”
Germany offered his hand to help the other nation up. America accepted, letting his boyfriend pull him up off the floor, before making his way to the water fountain for himself. Wiping his mouth off, he cocked his head towards the bench press, that grin still on his face.
“Then let’s go!”
Germany nodded and the pair headed over to the bench press. Germany lied down on his back and took the barbell, bringing it down to his chest and then thrusting it upward.
“One!”
America’s enthusiastic cheer congratulated him for the first rep. Germany continued on silently.
“Two!”
“Three!”
“Four!”
“Five!”
Germany continued onward at a steady pace, breathing regular and calm. America’s enthusiastic encouragement continued, keeping him on pace quite nicely. America was an excellent spotter; encouraging but not quite overbearing, and enthusiastic enough to make Germany want to keep up pace as to not disappoint him. In a way he was more effective than a drill sergeant type like himself would be, as odd as it was. It took some time for him to adjust to America’s gentler style, but over time Germany came to love it. He continued onward, starting to slow down a little bit after hitting the halfway mark.
“Fifty-one…”
“Fifty-two…”
“Fifty-threeeee…”
“Fifty-four…c’mon, man, I know you can do it! Too early to give up, gotta make it to a hundred, remember?”
Germany grunted as he continued on, his pace slower now as he had worn himself down over the course of his exercise regimen. He gritted his teeth and kept going, doing his best to keep up a steady pace as America stood over him, watching carefully to make sure Germany wasn’t pushing himself too hard and wouldn’t hurt himself as he continued cheering him on.
“Seventy-six…”
“Seventy-seven…”
“Seventy-eight…”
“Seventy-niiiiiiine…”
He was closer now. His arms trembled slightly, but it was nothing he couldn’t handle. He’d get his 100 reps, no way he wouldn’t. But damn was the last stretch ever the hardest. America’s encouragement was a bit softer and gentler now, but still enthusiastic as ever. America had faith in him. He wouldn’t let that down.
“Eighty-eight..…”
“Eighty-niiiiine…….”
“Ninety! C’mon, big guy, only ten more to go! You can do it!”
America’s cheering became louder again. In contrast, Germany’s breathing was now harsh and his arms were shaking quite a bit. But. Only ten more reps. He could do this. Only a little more. Yes. He lifted the barbell up again. America continued counting.
“…Ninety-five! That’s it, just five more, come on, come on!”
Yes. Five more. Grunting with each upward thrust of his arms, Germany continued, forcing himself to plow through those final reps as quickly as possible.
“Ninety-eight…”
“Ninety-niiiiiiiiiiiiiiine….”
Here it was. The last one. Breathing in deeply, Germany prepared himself, then thrust up the barbell one last time with all his strength, exhaling as he went.
“One hundred! Yes! I knew you’d make it! Congrats!”
Germany couldn’t help but smile as he replaced the barbell in its holder. He sat up, toweling himself off again as he’d worked up quite a bit of sweat. This time, America offered his hand to help him up instead. He took his boyfriend’s hand and allowed himself to be pulled up.
“Man, I sweated like crazy today! Let’s go hit the showers, what do you say?”
Germany blushed, looking away before giving a quiet answer.
“Er…perhaps we should. Uh. Wait until we get home maybe?”
It took a moment for what that meant to register with America, but when it did, a very pleased grin spread across his face and he slung his arm around Germany’s shoulder.
“Oh hell yeah! Let’s get going, then!”
“Shhh! America! Not so loud!”
“Sorry, man, I’m just excited! Can you blame me, with a proposition like that?”
America gave a sheepish shrug. Germany just sighed as he led the way out to their car, both of them carrying their supply duffels and tossing them into the back seat. Better get America home and out of public as soon as possible, really. He had no desire to put up with any further embarrassment, much as he knew he'd tolerate whatever may happen anyway.
“Man, it’s kinda funny, isn’t it?”
Germany, who was running on a treadmill at the moment, looked over to where America was seated on a bench doing bicep curls and shooting the other nation a wry smile. Germany raised an eyebrow.
“What do you mean by that?”
America laughed cheerfully at Germany’s confusion.
“Well. When most people think of a gay couple, they think of them doing stuff like. Going out on mushy dates and watching chick flicks and giving each other fashion tips and shit like that. But here we are at a gym.”
Germany was so caught off guard by that remark that he nearly fell off the treadmill. Jumping off at the last second before a catastrophic accident could happen, he stood in front of the other nation-his boyfriend-and blushed, remaining silent for a while, thanking the Lord that they were there so early that the gym was deserted. The only other person besides them that was there was a young woman on an elliptical across the room from them, and she had headphones in. Thank God. America just grinned and continued doing his bicep curls.
“And what is the point of this observation?”
“Oh, nothin’. Just thought it was kinda funny. And I was curious to see if it’d make you blush like that. Guess I was right!”
Germany rolled his eyes. Sometimes he wondered why he was so drawn to the other blond, enough to put up with that sort of crap out of him. But then he remembered while watching the other man continue his exercises as if nothing had happened. Though he goofed around a lot, America was serious about a lot of things, including his body’s fitness. Even if he did eat so many hamburgers it was obscene. Though Germany had to admit, at least to himself, it was kind of cute that America actually remembered that his favorite food got its name from one of his boyfriend’s cities.
He was also very handsome. And thoughtful when it really counted. And generous. He really was a hero sometimes. Even if he could also be a clown and embarrassing in public. All in all, Germany was very happy with his relationship with the loud and excitable young nation.
America finished his last set and put his dumbbells back away where they went, then decided it was time to be embarrassing again. Glancing over to make sure the woman on the elliptical wasn’t looking their way first, he slid an arm over Germany’s shoulder and pulled him into a quick, soft kiss. Startled and flustered, it took Germany all of his willpower to not yell and cause a total ruckus.
“America! What have I told you about PDA?!”
He hissed once America pulled away. America just shrugged, grinning.
“Sometimes I can’t help myself. You look good enough to eat sometimes~”
“…Was that supposed to be a compliment?”
America just laughed in reply to Germany’s remark. Germany rolled his eyes.
“C’mon, let’s finish our routine. You haven’t even started your weights yet.”
He clapped a hand over Germany’s impressive triceps, giving his arm a light squeeze that was both encouraging and affectionate. Germany couldn’t help but smile.
“You’re right. And you still need to do your ab workout, don’t you?”
America blushed. Though it was said as seriously as ever, America knew that Germany was teasing him a little. He had abs of steel, but in the back of his mind he was always slightly nervous that his figure would start to slip if he let up on the workouts at all. He did eat a lot of hamburgers.
“…Right. What’s your regimen today, anyway?”
A smooth change of subject indeed. Germany always liked talking about that sort of thing, routines and schedules and exercises. Still smiling, he replied,
“Start with the machines for working the quadriceps, followed by hamstrings, then calves. Then move to shoulder press, followed by pushdown. Move to 50 pound free weights next. Bicep curls, lateral raise, and deadlift. Finally, move to bench press with seventy-five pound weights. One hundred reps for everything.”
America gaped for a moment. It always amazed him how much Germany did in the weight room. If it was anyone else he’d probably think they were crazy. One hundred reps for everything? And he was doing quite a bit; he’d already done everything on the floor mat, also one hundred reps there, and he’d been running on that treadmill for a half an hour at least. Germany was the only person he knew that could handle that level of exercise aside from himself, and even he seldom worked himself quite that hard.
“Ah, tomorrow is less strenuous. Just cardio and swimming.”
He supplied, as if reading America’s mind. America grinned, looking forward to seeing Germany in a speedo. Swimming days were the best days, oh yes.
“Better get cracking, then! Want me to spot you on the bench press like usual?”
“Of course.”
Even America, king of inability to read the atmosphere, could catch the affection in Germany’s voice.
“Kay, come get me when you need me. I’ll be workin’ with the medicine ball!”
Germany nodded before heading over to the weights area to begin.
When the time came to go get America, Germany was definitely sweating. First he took a long drink from the water fountain, then took the towel that was around his neck to wipe the sweat off his face. He found America just finishing up the last bit of his ab workout.
“Ah, ready?”
America grinned, sitting up.
“Ja.”
Germany offered his hand to help the other nation up. America accepted, letting his boyfriend pull him up off the floor, before making his way to the water fountain for himself. Wiping his mouth off, he cocked his head towards the bench press, that grin still on his face.
“Then let’s go!”
Germany nodded and the pair headed over to the bench press. Germany lied down on his back and took the barbell, bringing it down to his chest and then thrusting it upward.
“One!”
America’s enthusiastic cheer congratulated him for the first rep. Germany continued on silently.
“Two!”
“Three!”
“Four!”
“Five!”
Germany continued onward at a steady pace, breathing regular and calm. America’s enthusiastic encouragement continued, keeping him on pace quite nicely. America was an excellent spotter; encouraging but not quite overbearing, and enthusiastic enough to make Germany want to keep up pace as to not disappoint him. In a way he was more effective than a drill sergeant type like himself would be, as odd as it was. It took some time for him to adjust to America’s gentler style, but over time Germany came to love it. He continued onward, starting to slow down a little bit after hitting the halfway mark.
“Fifty-one…”
“Fifty-two…”
“Fifty-threeeee…”
“Fifty-four…c’mon, man, I know you can do it! Too early to give up, gotta make it to a hundred, remember?”
Germany grunted as he continued on, his pace slower now as he had worn himself down over the course of his exercise regimen. He gritted his teeth and kept going, doing his best to keep up a steady pace as America stood over him, watching carefully to make sure Germany wasn’t pushing himself too hard and wouldn’t hurt himself as he continued cheering him on.
“Seventy-six…”
“Seventy-seven…”
“Seventy-eight…”
“Seventy-niiiiiiine…”
He was closer now. His arms trembled slightly, but it was nothing he couldn’t handle. He’d get his 100 reps, no way he wouldn’t. But damn was the last stretch ever the hardest. America’s encouragement was a bit softer and gentler now, but still enthusiastic as ever. America had faith in him. He wouldn’t let that down.
“Eighty-eight..…”
“Eighty-niiiiine…….”
“Ninety! C’mon, big guy, only ten more to go! You can do it!”
America’s cheering became louder again. In contrast, Germany’s breathing was now harsh and his arms were shaking quite a bit. But. Only ten more reps. He could do this. Only a little more. Yes. He lifted the barbell up again. America continued counting.
“…Ninety-five! That’s it, just five more, come on, come on!”
Yes. Five more. Grunting with each upward thrust of his arms, Germany continued, forcing himself to plow through those final reps as quickly as possible.
“Ninety-eight…”
“Ninety-niiiiiiiiiiiiiiine….”
Here it was. The last one. Breathing in deeply, Germany prepared himself, then thrust up the barbell one last time with all his strength, exhaling as he went.
“One hundred! Yes! I knew you’d make it! Congrats!”
Germany couldn’t help but smile as he replaced the barbell in its holder. He sat up, toweling himself off again as he’d worked up quite a bit of sweat. This time, America offered his hand to help him up instead. He took his boyfriend’s hand and allowed himself to be pulled up.
“Man, I sweated like crazy today! Let’s go hit the showers, what do you say?”
Germany blushed, looking away before giving a quiet answer.
“Er…perhaps we should. Uh. Wait until we get home maybe?”
It took a moment for what that meant to register with America, but when it did, a very pleased grin spread across his face and he slung his arm around Germany’s shoulder.
“Oh hell yeah! Let’s get going, then!”
“Shhh! America! Not so loud!”
“Sorry, man, I’m just excited! Can you blame me, with a proposition like that?”
America gave a sheepish shrug. Germany just sighed as he led the way out to their car, both of them carrying their supply duffels and tossing them into the back seat. Better get America home and out of public as soon as possible, really. He had no desire to put up with any further embarrassment, much as he knew he'd tolerate whatever may happen anyway.